DAYSLAND, Alta. – Farmers may say they work safely around farm machinery, but their children tell a different story.
Debbie Kirk was shocked to hear some of the stories children shared with presenters during a farm safety day at Daysland School.
“We’ve heard quite a few horror stories,” Kirk said part way through the morning’s presentations.
Children admitted to riding quads without helmets or doubling on the lawn mower.
“People aren’t aware how fast accidents happen,” said Kirk, one of the organizers of the school’s farm safety day.
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By emphasizing the dangers on the farm to elementary and junior high school students, and showing them how to stay safe, Kirk hopes the message will be passed on to the parents.
“I think a day like this reinforces how important farm safety is,” said Kirk, a grain farmer with three children on the farm.
Marion Leithead, co-ordinator of the farm safety day, said Daysland is a farming community and the farm safety message needs to be told.
“We’re trying to prevent childhood injuries,” said Leithead.
More than 60 people volunteered to help with each of the 14 stations that included quad safety, safety around flowing grain, augers, electricity and firearms safety.
Leithead said community members and teachers requested sessions dealing with firearms and quads.
“The kids are out riding on the quad and they’re gopher hunting with guns. They need to know how to do things safely,” said Leithead.
“These are community and teacher suggestions and community and teacher approved.”
Alex Frank, an Alberta Fish and Wildlife officer, let one child demonstrate how to safely carry a .22 calibre rifle. The .22 is the most common firearm on the farm, and the one responsible for most accidents.
“Always assume it’s loaded,” Frank told the children.
